Stoma leakage case sharing

Recently, I have seen many new stoma patients in the customer base, and they will all face the problem of stoma leakage. Although the operation is also using the anti-leakage cream according to the guidance of the nurse , it still leaks quickly. So what is the reason for this? This article will explain to you how to avoid the problem of stoma leakage, please take a look with me below.

Below is a photo of my patient taking his ostomy care :

①Assess the stoma condition:

In the photo, it can be seen that the stoma chassis is whitish around, indicating that there is a leakage problem. It is obvious that the stoma chassis in the photo is too large, and the gap at the edge of the stoma is too large, and the excrement will flow into this gap. Many people think that leak-proof paste or leak-proof ring can prevent leakage here. In fact, once the gap is too large and there is too much water in the excrement, the leak-proof cream will absorb the water and slowly soften, which is the same as the hydrocolloid chassis of the ostomy bag. Therefore, the main cause of many stoma leaks may be due to oversized hole trimming.

②What is the appropriate size for cutting the stoma chassis ?

The size of the stoma tray should match the size of the stoma. If the opening of the stoma tray is too large, feces can come into contact with the skin and loosen the adhesive seal. Generally, the drainage opening should be as close as possible to the edge of the stoma, leaving as few gaps as possible, and the gap should not exceed 1.5mm. If the stoma tray is too large, you can also try to place the lower edge of the ostomy bag close to the edge of the stoma, and the gap can be left above the stoma. Combined with the use of leak-proof cream, the use time of the stoma tray can be extended as much as possible. For irregular stoma, you can cut a ruler according to your own stoma shape and size. When cutting the chassis, void should not exceed 1.5mm.

③ What should I do if the stoma chassis does not match the skin around the stoma ?

First check to see if the skin around the stoma stays flat when you sit or stand , the skin barrier can wrinkle and allow stool to break the seal. If this is the case, a convex pouch system may be more helpful in keeping the skin around the stoma flat. The skin barrier is available in flat or convex shapes. One way to determine which shape is best for you is to examine the skin around the stoma while sitting and standing. If there are creases anywhere, consider using a raised pocket system.

If the stoma does not protrude above the skin, stool can get under the pouch seal and cause leakage. The convex pouch system can provide some pressure around the stoma to force the output into the pouch, rather than under the skin barrier seal. If the bagging system is worn for a long time, the adhesive of the skin barrier can corrode or wear away, which can lead to leakage. If this happens, consider reducing the wear time by a day or two.

④How to avoid leakage of ostomy bag?

Longterm Medical recommends that you empty it when it is about 2/3 full. This prevents the weight of the bag from pulling the chassis off your body. If you leak before 2/3 full, you may need to empty it when 1/2 full or even 1/3 full. The stoma belt can also be used to prevent the weight of the bag from pulling the chassis down.

If you are unable to determine the cause of the leakage of the ostomy bag system, please promptly evaluate it with the ostomy nurse .

For more information on Innomed® ostomy pouch , refer to the previous articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; we will serve you wholeheartedly.

At Longterm Medical, we transform this data by innovating and developing products that make life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia

Date: November4, 2022